Gunpla collectors get a heavy-weapons-focused release in August 2026 with Bandai's HG 1/144 Gundam Leopard, a kit built around the GT-9600 from After War Gundam X. Where most High Grade kits lean on speed or melee posing, this one is built to show off deployment gimmicks across nearly every panel of the suit.
This is also the first Gundam-format guide on this site, so alongside the confirmed release details, this post covers something collectors moving into Gunpla from cards or action figures often ask about: what actually protects a sealed model kit box and a finished build once you're done assembling it.
Here is what is confirmed about the kit, why this particular mobile suit is getting the spotlight in 2026, and a straightforward way to keep both the sealed box and the finished model in good shape.
Bandai's own hobby division and dedicated Gunpla press have confirmed matching details on this release:
The kit uses Bandai's current color separation and part division technology, meaning most of the suit's color scheme comes from molded plastic rather than paint or stickers.
Gundam Leopard was originally built as a heavy artillery platform for the Old Earth Federation's Newtype forces, designed around real-bullet weaponry rather than beam weapons, and equipped with treads instead of flight capability. In the show, it also worked alongside a squad of unmanned G-Bits controlled through the Flash System, turning it into a mobile fire-support unit rather than a frontline melee suit.
The timing lines up with After War Gundam X's broader anniversary attention this year, and Bandai has leaned into kits that recreate specific, recognizable combat moments rather than generic suit variants. For Gundam Leopard, that means the Arm Gatling and the multi-point missile deployment are the actual selling point of the kit, not an afterthought accessory.
Model kits create a protection question that card and action figure collectors usually do not have to think about: the sealed box matters before assembly, and the finished model matters differently after it.
Before building, the retail box itself is the main thing worth protecting from crushing, shelf wear, and sun exposure if it is going to sit unopened for a while. EVORETRO does not currently carry a box protector sized specifically for HG kit packaging, so the honest answer here is that a snug, kit-specific sleeve is not something to look for in the catalog yet.
After building, the concern shifts to dust, UV fading, and accidental knocks to exposed weapon parts like the deployed Arm Gatling or the open missile pods, which stick out further than a typical action figure's silhouette and catch more shelf traffic as a result.
For the built model, EVORETRO's Acrylic Modular Case is a genuinely reasonable fit even though it was not designed with Gunpla specifically in mind. It is a DIY-assembly acrylic case with UV protection and a black base, and its intended use already spans model cars, replicas, and detailed collectibles alongside the usual figures and memorabilia. That makes it one of the more flexible options in the catalog for a finished Gundam Leopard build, rather than something forced into a role it was never meant for.
It will not solve the sealed-box storage question, only the finished-model display question, so anyone planning to keep the box factory-sealed for a while should stick with basic shelf placement away from direct sunlight and stacking pressure until a more specific option exists.
Collectors coming to Gundam Leopard from cards or action figures sometimes underestimate how different a snap-fit kit build actually is. A few basics make the first build noticeably smoother: use actual sprue nippers instead of scissors or a hobby knife to cut parts free, since a clean cut leaves less of a visible nub to sand down afterward. Dry-fit tricky sections, like the deployment panels on this kit's shoulder and calf, before committing to a final snap, since forcing an unaligned part is the most common way a small Gunpla piece cracks.
Gundam Leopard's heavy gimmick count also means more small moving parts than a simpler HG kit, so working in a contained space with a small parts tray helps avoid losing the tiny pins and joints that make the Arm Gatling swap actually function. None of this is unique to this kit, but it matters more here than on a kit with fewer posable weapon features.
It's part of Bandai's High Grade (HG) Gunpla line at 1/144 scale, the company's most extensive and widely available model kit series.
Most of its selling points are deployment gimmicks: an Arm Gatling that shifts from a stowed to a firing position, plus opening missile pods and Gatling guns across the shoulder, chest, knees, and calf.
It's scheduled for general release in August 2026 at a suggested retail price of 2,420 JPY, tax included.
Since there is no Gundam-specific case in the catalog yet, a general UV-protective acrylic display case, like EVORETRO's Acrylic Modular Case, is the more practical option for a finished build.
Gundam Leopard is a straightforward pickup for collectors who want a Gunpla kit that actually shows its weapons off rather than keeping them tucked away, and the confirmed pricing and gimmick list make it easy to know what you are getting before it ships in August.
Since this is new territory for the site's product lineup, treat the finished build the way you would any other detailed acrylic-cased collectible for now, and keep an eye out for more kit-specific options as Gunpla coverage here expands.
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